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Equine-Assisted Counselling at Horse Wisdom Farm
Child, Youth & Adult Counselling with Therapy Horses in Victoria, BC

Looking for Equine-Assisted Counselling in Victoria, Brentwood Bay, Saanich, Sidney, Langford, or Southern Vancouver Island?

🐴 Are you looking for child and youth counselling with horses in a calm, outdoor setting?

 

🐴 Is your child or teen experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, stress, low confidence, difficulty with emotional regulation, or challenges connecting with others?

 

🐴 Are you interested in a different kind of therapy that goes beyond talking and allows children, teens, and adults to explore emotions through connection, relationship, and the human-horse bond?

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🐴 Are you drawn to the sensitivity of horses and curious about how equine-assisted counselling can support healing, self-awareness, confidence, and emotional growth?

Equine-assisted counselling offers a unique, experiential approach to mental health support by combining professional counselling with guided interaction with horses.

Located at Horse Wisdom Farm in Brentwood Bay, equine-assisted counselling is available for children, youth, teens, and adults in Victoria, Saanich, Central Saanich, North Saanich, Sidney, Langford, and surrounding Southern Vancouver Island communities.

What is Equine-Assisted Counselling?

Equine-assisted counselling is a trauma-informed, experiential therapy approach that integrates guided interaction with horses to support emotional healing, self-awareness, and personal growth.

As an Equusoma® Level 1 student practitioner, my approach is informed by the Equusoma® model of equine-facilitated psychotherapy, incorporating attachment-based therapy, somatic approaches, nervous system regulation, and relational healing.

Horses are highly sensitive to body language, emotions, and changes in nervous system states. Through safe, supported interactions with horses, clients can explore emotional patterns, build confidence, strengthen self-awareness, and develop skills for regulation and connection.

Equine-assisted counselling may support children, youth, teens, and adults experiencing:

  • Anxiety, excessive worry, and fears

  • Depression, low mood, and emotional withdrawal

  • ADHD, neurodivergence, and challenges with attention, focus, or self-regulation

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and support with emotional awareness, communication, and connection

  • Emotional regulation challenges, big emotions, and difficulty managing stress responses

  • Trauma, adverse experiences, and difficult life transitions

  • Chronic stress, overwhelm, burnout, and nervous system dysregulation

  • Grief, loss, and significant changes

  • Low confidence, self-esteem challenges, and difficulty trusting oneself

  • Social challenges, peer relationships, and interpersonal difficulties

  • Attachment and relationship challenges

  • Difficulty expressing feelings or engaging in traditional talk therapy approaches

For children and youth who experience the world intensely, feel overwhelmed by emotions, or struggle to communicate their internal experiences, horses can offer a unique pathway for connection, self-awareness, confidence-building, and therapeutic growth.

FAQs

How does equine-assisted counselling support the nervous system?

Horses are highly attuned to nonverbal communication, body language, and changes in emotional states. Their responses can help clients notice patterns in their own nervous system, including moments of stress, activation, shutdown, or calm.

Through supported interactions with horses, clients can practice grounding, co-regulation, emotional awareness, and returning to a more connected state.

 

What happens during an equine-assisted counselling session?

Sessions take place outdoors and may include:

  • Mindfulness and grounding activities

  • Observing and connecting with horses

  • Guided therapeutic activities

  • Exploring emotions and body awareness

  • Building confidence and trust

  • Reflecting on relationship patterns and experiences

The focus is not on riding or horse training. The horse becomes part of the therapeutic process, offering opportunities for awareness, connection, and growth.

 

Does my child need horse experience?

No. Horse experience is not required.

Sessions are designed to be welcoming and accessible for beginners. I provide guidance and support throughout the process, with safety and emotional comfort as priorities.

 

Is this riding therapy?

No. Equine-assisted counselling is not riding instruction or horsemanship training.

The focus is on the therapeutic relationship between the client, the horse, and the counselling process through safe, on-the-ground interaction.

 

Where does equine-assisted counselling take place?

Equine-assisted counselling sessions are offered at Horse Wisdom Farm in Brentwood Bay, BC.

Services are available for families and individuals from:

  • Victoria

  • Brentwood Bay

  • Saanich

  • Central Saanich

  • North Saanich

  • Sidney

  • Langford

  • Southern Vancouver Island communities

 

Begin Equine-Assisted Counselling in Victoria, BC

If you are looking for child counselling, youth therapy, teen counselling, or adult mental health support with horses, equine-assisted counselling may provide a meaningful path toward emotional regulation, confidence, healing, and connection.

A complimentary consultation is available to explore whether this approach is a good fit.

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"… and God took a handful of Southerly wind, blew his breath over it, and created the horse.”

- Bedouin Legend

"To blessed animals the utmost kindness must be shown, the more the better."

-Baha'i Writings

hello@nightingalepsychotherapy.ca

address: 304-895 Fort Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1H7

text or call: 587-400-3179 

©2026 by Ania Telfer

Psychotherapy, counselling, and art therapy services for children, youth, teens, adults, couples, families, and veterans, offered by Ania Telfer, M.C., Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC). My practice provides child and youth counselling, trauma-informed therapy, anxiety support, emotional regulation support, and mental health counselling using a blend of somatic, attachment-based, mindfulness, expressive arts, art therapy, and equine-assisted counselling approaches.

I support children, adolescents, and adults experiencing anxiety, ADHD, neurodivergence, trauma, emotional regulation challenges, life transitions, relationship concerns, grief, stress, and personal growth. My specialized services include equine-assisted counselling with horses, Equusoma®-informed approaches, and creative arts-based therapy to support healing, resilience, self-awareness, and emotional wellbeing.

I offer in-person counselling and equine-assisted therapy services in Victoria, British Columbia, including Brentwood Bay, Saanich, Langford, Sidney, Central Saanich, North Saanich, Colwood, Esquimalt, Oak Bay, View Royal, and surrounding Greater Victoria communities.

Secure online counselling, psychotherapy, and art therapy are available for clients throughout British Columbia and Canada.

Nightingale Psychotherapy respectfully acknowledges that and with immense gratitude the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) Peoples and the W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples on southern Vancouver Island.

I am grateful to the Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and community members who have cared for these lands across generations, those who are with us today, those who have gone before us, and those yet to come.

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